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Rotoprofessor’s Two-Start Pitchers: Week 6

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week. If I have someone rated as a three, four or five-star option, they are someone I would definitely use. A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but I’d strongly lean against it unless I have no other options. The one-star options are an absolutely not scenario.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available to you this week:

Five-Star Options:

None

Four-Star Options:

Matt Garza – Tampa Bay Rays – @ LAA, vs. Sea

Tommy Hanson – Atlanta Braves – @ Mil, vs. Ari

Cliff Lee – Seattle Mariners – @ Bal, @ TB

Three-Star Options:

Chad Billingsley – Los Angeles Dodgers – @ Ari, @ SD

John Lackey – Boston Red Sox – vs. Tor, @ Det

Colby Lewis – Texas Rangers – vs. Oak, @ Tor

Ted Lilly – Chicago Cubs – vs. Fla, vs. Pit

Ricky Nolasco – Florida Marlins – @ CHC, vs. NYM

Brad Penny – St. Louis Cardinals – vs. Hou, @ Cin

Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants – vs. SD, vs. Hou

Two-Star Options:

Bronson Arroyo – Cincinnati Reds – @ Pit, vs. Stl

Brian Bannister – Kansas City Royals – vs. Cle, vs. CWS

Wade LeBlanc – San Diego Padres – @ SF, vs. LAD

John Maine – New York Mets – vs. Was, @ Fla

Brandon Morrow – Toronto Blue Jays – @ Bos, vs. Tex

Brett Myers – Houston Astros – @ Stl, @ SF

Jonathan Niese – New York Mets – vs. Was, @ Fla

Scott Olsen – Washington Nationals – @ NYM, @ Col

Joel Pineiro – Los Angeles Angels – vs. TB, vs. Oak

Javier Vazquez – New York Yankees – @ Det, vs. Min

One-Star Options:

Luis Atilano – Washington Nationals – @ NYM, @ Col

Trevor Cahill – Oakland Athletics – @ Tex, @ LAA

Aaron Cook – Colorado Rockies – vs. Phi, vs. Was

Doug Davis – Milwaukee Brewers – vs. Atl, vs. Phi

David Hernandez – Baltimore Orioles – vs. Sea, vs. Cle

Kyle Kendrick – Philadelphia Phillies – @ Col, @ Mil

Rodrigo Lopez – Arizona Diamondbacks – vs. LAD, @ Atl

Ross Ohlendorf – Pittsburgh Pirates – vs. Cin, @ CHC

Rick Porcello – Detroit Tigers – vs. NYY, vs. Bos

Nate Robertson – Florida Marlins – @ CHC, vs. NYM

Greg Smith – Colorado Rockies – vs. Phi, vs. Was

Dontrelle Willis – Detroit Tigers – vs. NYY, vs. Bos

Jake Westbrook – Cleveland Indians – @ KC, @ Bal

Rotation Notes:

The Yankees could have a second two-start option, depending on if Andy Pettitte goes on the DL or is just skipped for a start. Monitor this situation because, pitching for the Yankees, whoever steps in could have value.

Thoughts:

Does anyone trust Javier Vazquez at this point? Despite the two-starts, it’s impossible to classify him as a must use option in any format. It really is amazing how far he’s fallen compared to 2009, isn’t it?

I know that Chad Billingsley hasn’t been overly effective in 2009, but with a start against the Padres next week, how could you not start him? For his career he’s 8-4 with a 2.71 ERA against them, so it’s worth the risk against the Diamondbacks.

While Arroyo’s start against the Pirates is enticing, I can’t make him a three-star option due to that start against the Cardinals at the end of the week. For his career, Albert Pujols is hitting .308 with 3 HR against Arroyo, so playing in Great American Ballpark could get ugly.

Of the two Mets starters listed as two-star options, at this point I have more faith in Jonathan Niese. Prior to some struggles in Cincinnati (4 ER over 6.0 IP), he had allowed two earned runs in 18 innings to go along with 20 Ks. With his first start coming at home, where he has a 2.12 ERA, so he’s definitely worth taking the gamble on.

Dontrelle Willis has pitched well enough to potentially be usable, but with starts against the Yankees and Red Sox? No thank you, no matter what the numbers say.

Ross Ohlendorf has the potential to be usable, but these are his first starts off the DL. That makes him too big of a risk to trust.

What are your thoughts? Who have I ranked too high? Who do you think will outperform my rankings?